Portable Golf Putting Green

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a solution for putting greens to be both moldable to the terrain and transportable, while at the same time secure in less than optimal conditions. By providing a flexible putting green material that can be staked to the ground via multiple stake holes, embodiments of the present invention provide an all-terrain putting green that can be secured to any stake-permitting outdoor ground surface, such as dirt, sand, or gravel. The flexible putting green material can comprise an upper layer and a lower layer that are secured together. The lower layer can be made of a material that is adapted for direct contact with outdoor ground surfaces. The upper layer can be made of a material that sufficiently resembles the surface characteristics of a traditional putting green.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/894,795, filed Jun. 6, 2020, now abandoned. This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/929,845, entitled “All Terrain Flexible Supported Putting Green,” filed on Nov. 2, 2019.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable putting green for the sport of golf. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable golf putting green that can be quickly secured to a lawn or ground surface. Still more particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable golf putting green made from a flexible material comprising an upper layer and a lower layer that can be quickly secured to a lawn or ground surface using stakes.

BACKGROUND

Artificial putting greens are generally limited to flat surfaces and non-hazardous conditions that do not adequately model the structure and setting of a real golf course putting green. Moreover, most artificial putting greens are bulky and heavy. Consequently, because of their weight, they are not portable for the average user. Artificial putting greens are also generally not adaptable or adjustable to fit uneven surfaces or fit for high winds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a solution for putting greens to be both moldable to the terrain and transportable, while at the same time secure in less than optimal conditions.

By providing a flexible putting green material that can be staked to the ground via multiple stake holes, embodiments of the present invention provide an all-terrain putting green that can be secured to any stake-permitting outdoor ground surface, such as dirt, sand, or gravel.

The flexible putting green material of certain embodiments can comprise an upper layer and a lower layer that are secured together in a number of ways described below. The lower layer can be made of a material that is adapted for direct contact with outdoor ground surfaces. The upper layer can be made of a material that sufficiently resembles the surface characteristics of a traditional putting green.

The flexible putting green material can comprise many different overall shapes, including a square, rectangle, trapezoid, circle, oval, or virtually any irregular shape.

The flexible putting green material can comprise a number of stake holes for stakes that may secure the flexible putting green material to an outdoor surface.

The flexible putting green material may include one or more golf ball holes having the same or similar diameter as a traditional golf ball hole. The golf ball hole in the flexible putting green material allows a user to place the flexible putting green material wherever they choose on the outdoor surface, and then dig their own corresponding hole in the outdoor surface.

Benefits of embodiments of the invention include: the ability to locate the golf ball hole on any angle of the ground surface it is placed on, the capacity to put the putting green material on a ground surface without requiring a solid layer beneath the putting green material to make it flat, the potential to roll up the flexible putting green material for transport, and the functionality of attaching the flexible putting green material to a variety of outdoor ground surfaces via stakes.

The above summaries of embodiments of the present invention have been provided to introduce certain concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The summarized embodiments are not necessarily representative of the claimed subject matter, nor do they limit or span the scope of features described in more detail below. Each summary simply serves as an introduction to the subject matter of the various inventions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So the manner in which the above recited summary features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable golf putting green in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with a view of the top and sides of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of a portable golf putting green in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, showing placement of a golf ball hole.

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of a portable golf putting green in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, showing placement of a stake hole surrounded by a grommet, through which a stake can be inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout, and wherein the leftmost digit of each reference number refers to the drawing number of the figure in which the referenced part first appears.

Overview

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable golf putting green in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with a view of the top and sides of the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an embodiment of a portable golf Putting Green 100 is shown. The Putting Green 100 may comprise an Upper Layer 110, a Lower Layer 120, at least one Stake Hole 130 encircled by a Grommet 140 located near an edge of Putting Green 100, and at least one Golf Ball Hole 150.

Upper Layer 110 can be a flexible playing surface of the Putting Green 100. In a preferred embodiment, Upper Layer 110 may be shaped generally like a rectangle or trapezoid, but any shape known to be useful by one of ordinary skill in the art may be used, including a square, rectangle, trapezoid, circle, oval, or any irregular shape. Upper Layer 110 may be made from a flexible material, textured yarn, felt, wool, foam, Astroturf™ or any similar material that can sufficiently resemble the surface characteristics of a traditional putting green and can substantially flex to conform to the contours of a typical outdoor ground surface comprising grass, sand, dirt, small gravel, or any combination thereof, so as to provide a suitable surface upon which a golf ball can be putt in a manner similar to a traditional putting green.

Lower Layer 120 can be a flexible material attached to Upper Layer 110 of the Putting Green 100. In a preferred embodiment, Lower Layer 120 may be shaped to generally match the shape of Upper Layer 110. Lower Layer 120 may be made from flexible materials such as rip-stop nylon, polypropylene, ottertex™, nylon, or any other similar material suited for being placed against wet or dirty surfaces, or that can generally withstand exposure to hazardous conditions.

The material comprising the Lower Layer 120 can allow for a comfortable grip when rolling up the Putting Green 100, and Lower Layer 120 can also ensure the durability of Putting Green 100when placed on a rugged surface.

Lower Layer 120 may be attached to Upper Layer 110 via stitching, gluing, serging, fusible adhesive, webbing, or any other way of attaching both types of materials together that leaves Upper Layer 110 at least partially uncovered.

Optionally, Lower Layer 120 may be larger than Upper Layer 110 so that the excess material of Lower Layer 120 may be folded around and over the edges of Upper Layer 110 and secured to the upper surface of Upper Layer 110 by any of the attachment methods identified above.

Similarly, optionally, Upper Layer 110 may be larger than Lower Layer 120 so that the excess material of Upper Layer 110 may be folded around and over the edges of Lower Layer 120 and secured to the lower surface of Lower Layer 120 by any of the attachment methods identified above.

In an embodiment, the size of Upper Layer 110 is 2′ by 8′.

In an embodiment, the size of Lower Layer 120 is larger by 4 inches in each direction: 2′ 4″ by 8′ 4″.

A collection of a number of portable Putting Greens 100 may be arranged edge-to-edge, so as to expand the total putting surface of the combined collection of Putting Greens 100. Each putting green 100 in a collection may comprise any shape sufficient to generally meet the edge of an adjacent Putting Green 100.

A Golf Ball Hole 150 may be placed anywhere on or within the Putting Green 100. Golf Ball Hole 150 is simply a hole cut into corresponding locations in Upper Layer 110 and Lower Layer 120 to create a hole that can accommodate a Golf Ball 210 (shown in FIG. 2).

A Grommet 140 may be placed anywhere within Putting Green 100 to create a Stake Hole 130 having a diameter optimally sized to accommodate a Stake 310 (see FIG. 3). Preferentially, a Grommet 140 may be placed near any edge or corner so that when a Stake 310 is inserted through Grommet 140 and then driven into the ground surface (not shown), the Putting Green 100 can be generally held in place on the ground surface by the

Stake 310. A Putting Green 100 may have a number of Grommets 140, and thus any number of Stake Holes 130.

Golf Ball Hole

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of a portable golf Putting Green 100 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, showing placement of a Golf Ball Hole 150.

Golf Ball Hole 150 in a preferred embodiment may be located 4″ from the end of the Putting Green 100, however, Golf Ball Hole 150 can be placed anywhere on the Putting Green 100. Indeed, there may be many such Golf Ball Holes 150 on the Putting Green 100.

The preferred diameter of Golf Ball Hole 150 is 4.25″, but the diameter of Golf Ball Hole 150 may be any size so long as it can accommodate a Golf Ball 210 measuring from 1.7″ to 3″ in diameter.

Stake Holes

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of a portable golf Putting Green 100 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, showing placement of a Stake Hole 130 surrounded by a Grommet 140, through which a Stake 310 can be inserted.

The preferred length of Stake 310 is approximately 9″, but Stake 310 may be any size adequate to secure Putting Green 110 to a ground surface (not shown). Stake 310 may be from 2″ to 10″ long and from 0.10″ to 1″ in diameter. In a preferred embodiment, Stake 310 may fit through Stake Hole 130 created by Grommet 140. Stake 310 may have a Stake Hook 320 with which it may grapple and hold Grommet 140 securely. Stake 310 may also include a Stake Cap 330 that has a diameter larger than Stake Hole 130 or Grommet 140 and can thereby hold Putting Green 100 securely to the ground surface (not shown). Stake 310 may be made of wood, plastic, metal, or other comnposite material, with a point at its end. The point end of Stake 310 may further comprise a screw.

The preferred diameter of Stake Hole 130 and thus the inner diameter of Grommet 140, is 1″. However, the inner diameter of Grommet 140 (and thus Stake Hole 130) may be anywhere from 0.10″ to approximately 1.5″. Grommet 140 may be any size necessary to accommodate Stake Hole 130 and Stake 310.

In a preferred embodiment, Stake Hole 130 may be placed approximately 2″ from any edge of Putting Green 100. However, Stake Hole 130 can be placed anywhere on Putting Green 100.

In a preferred embodiment, Grommet 140 may be inserted into Stake Hole 130 and thereby cover the edges of Upper Layer 110 and Lower Layer 120 that surround Stake Hole 130. Grommet 140 may be snapped into place with an eyelet or similar connection. Instead of Grommet 140, Stake Hole 130 may be formed from a webbing loop, a Power Tab™, or any other object with a similar function.

Although the present disclosure provides certain embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that modifications, variations and additional embodiments are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A portable flexible putting green, comprising: an upper layer and a lower layer joined together; a golf ball hole in the putting green, comprising an opening in the upper layer that is aligned with a corresponding opening in the lower layer; a plurality of grommets, where each grommet compresses the upper layer against the lower layer; and a plurality of stakes, where each stake is inserted through one of the plurality of grommets to secure the putting green to a ground surface.
 2. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein the putting green is shaped like a rectangle.
 3. The portable flexible putting green of claim 2, wherein the rectangle is approximately 2 feet wide and approximately 8 feet long.
 4. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein the upper layer comprises AstroTurfr™. cm
 5. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein the lower layer comprises rip-stop nylon.
 6. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein the lower layer comprises ottertex™.
 7. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein the golf ball hole has a diameter of approximately 4.25 inches in diameter.
 8. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein the shaft of each of the plurality of stakes is approximately 6 inches long and 0.25 inches in diameter.
 9. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of grommets has a hole with inner diameter of between 0.25 inch and 1 inch.
 10. The portable flexible putting green of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of stakes has a stake cap, and the width of the stake cap is wider than the inner diameter of each of the plurality of grommets. 